Martin William Davis : “Gatesville Murder Case: Third Suspect Indicted – Latest Developments”

GATESVILLE, Texas (FOX 44) – The Gatesville Police Department has announced the indictment of a third suspect in the murder of Martin William Davis, which occurred in March 2023. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Coryell County District Attorney’s Office and Texas Rangers, has resulted in the identification of Scott Allen Harkcom, a 34-year-old resident of Gatesville, as the third alleged suspect. On January 25, 2024, Harkcom was indicted by a Coryell County Grand Jury on a murder charge.

According to Chief Brad Hunt, Harkcom was served with the indictment warrant while already in custody at the Coryell County Jail on an unrelated charge. Hunt stated, “We and our partners have remained diligent in pursuing this case, as we promised. The arrest of this third suspect does not close the case entirely, but ensures the three known parties to Mr. Martin’s death are brought to justice. Our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased.”

The previous two suspects involved in the murder, Shawn Michael Smith-Brearey, 21, from Temple, and Trevor Lovell Ford, 32, from Gatesville, were apprehended on July 21, 2023. Both individuals were charged with murder and subsequently arrested.

Collaborative Efforts Lead to Arrests

Following Smith-Brearey’s indictment by a Coryell County Grand Jury in June, Gatesville Police collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Texas Rangers, and the Temple Police Department to apprehend him without incident at a residence in Temple on July 20, 2023. Ford, who was already in custody at the Coryell County Jail on unrelated charges, was served with a murder charge warrant based on the June indictment.

Details of the Murder

Martin William Davis, a 61-year-old Gatesville resident, was identified as the victim of the shooting incident that occurred on March 27, 2023. Davis was returning home from H-E-B and unloading his groceries from his vehicle when the tragic incident took place.

Surveillance photos captured the three suspects approaching Davis’s residence while concealing their faces and arms. Within seconds, one of the suspects fired a fatal shot before all three fled in a southerly direction.

The Gatesville Police initially responded to the scene on Waco Street around 9:36 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2023. They discovered Davis with gunshot wounds, lying on the ground outside his front door. Despite the arrival of EMS personnel shortly after, they were unable to revive him.

During the investigation, officers interviewed several witnesses in the area, while Gatesville Police and Texas Rangers processed the crime scene for evidence. Assistance was also provided by Coryell County Sheriff’s Deputies and Gatesville Fire Department.

Contact Information for Tips

If you have any information regarding this case, you can contact the Gatesville Police Department at 254-865-2226 or Centex Crime Stoppers at 254-865-8477.